MERLD does exist!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. You guys are seriously tearing each other up, and for what? Please take a step back and reassess.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. You guys are seriously tearing each other up, and for what? Please take a step back and reassess.

FWIW, my child was diagnosed with MERLD and no one has ever for a minute suspected an ASD diagnosis. Went through speech therapy and language is much improved. Most people would not detect the lingering issues.

Well, the OP should stop initiating/inserting MERLD threads/everything is peachy threads/posts. We get it--her kid had a MERLD not ASD diagnosis. No one cares except the OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I think it depends which professional you talk to. I have posted before. My son was diagnosed with MERLD and I was pretty much told down the line that some professionals use MERLD and ASD interchangeably because the interventions are the same. Often you can get more services in school with the ASD diagnosis. In the end it doesn't matter. Your goal is to get as much intervention as possible tailored to your child's individual needs and both that varies more from child to child than from ASD to MERLD.

The most interesting thing I was told was brain scans of those with ASD and MERLD were similar, but I didn't do a lit search so not sure if that was anecdotal.

The DSM is ever evolving. They used to have Aspergers as a separate diagnosis too. Many years ago I believe I read homosexuality was considered a disorder as per DSM early editions. A group of professionals meet and make adjustments. It is not carved in stone.

Of course, they are similar. Lots of kids with ASD have receptive language disorder and expressive language disorder as part of their ASD. That is going to look exactly like the language deficits that kids with MERLD have.

Huh? No, MERLD and ASD are not similar. Kids can be both, but they are not inclusive. You can have expressive and receptive issues without ASD. It looks different as the children present very differently. With just MERLD, most kids outgrow the concerns as the language progresses, with ASD, they often remain. MERLD kids do not have the same struggles when they are older as ASD. But, if it makes you feel better to lump all these kids together, go for it.

I spent a lot of time reading everything that I could on MERLD, when my son was diagnosed with MERLD. The evidence doesn't agree with you. Here's why you are wrong:

1. If kids have deficits in receptive speech and expressive speech, it is going to look very similar on an fMRI, regardless of the diagnosis. Kids with ASD also have other problems, and that may show up in other areas on an fMRI, but the shared language issues make them look similar.

2. Kids with MERLD and ASD present similarly, especially if the MERLD is severe or the ASD is high functioning. That is why the differential diagnosis can be difficult, and many professionals have a hard time doing it. That's why lots of people recommending going to the Camaratas. They have a lot of experience making that differential diagnosis.

3. Kids with MERLD have on-going deficits, even as adults. I posted the research on another thread. Go read it. In general, I agree that their prognosis is better as a group than the prognosis for kids with ASD, but they aren't going to outgrow MERLD and become NT. They aren't all going to do better than all kids with ASDs, either.

Your child does not have MERLD and was improperly diagnosed from what you have said. What experience do you have going to the Camarata's? What other issues do you feel my child currently has? You are rambling about "research" quoting others of what you found off the internet. You have no true experience and sadly do not even understand the differences in MERLD vs. ASD and what the impact of each diagnosis is. Your kid sounds like a nightmare with ADHD and ASD, but not all of our kids are remotely like that.

Excuse me? I'm 14:32 again, not the pp you quoted, but my child also has ADHD and ASD and he is not a nightmare. So fuck you for suggesting that somehow certain diagnoses are "nightmares."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I think it depends which professional you talk to. I have posted before. My son was diagnosed with MERLD and I was pretty much told down the line that some professionals use MERLD and ASD interchangeably because the interventions are the same. Often you can get more services in school with the ASD diagnosis. In the end it doesn't matter. Your goal is to get as much intervention as possible tailored to your child's individual needs and both that varies more from child to child than from ASD to MERLD.

The most interesting thing I was told was brain scans of those with ASD and MERLD were similar, but I didn't do a lit search so not sure if that was anecdotal.

The DSM is ever evolving. They used to have Aspergers as a separate diagnosis too. Many years ago I believe I read homosexuality was considered a disorder as per DSM early editions. A group of professionals meet and make adjustments. It is not carved in stone.

Of course, they are similar. Lots of kids with ASD have receptive language disorder and expressive language disorder as part of their ASD. That is going to look exactly like the language deficits that kids with MERLD have.

Huh? No, MERLD and ASD are not similar. Kids can be both, but they are not inclusive. You can have expressive and receptive issues without ASD. It looks different as the children present very differently. With just MERLD, most kids outgrow the concerns as the language progresses, with ASD, they often remain. MERLD kids do not have the same struggles when they are older as ASD. But, if it makes you feel better to lump all these kids together, go for it.

I spent a lot of time reading everything that I could on MERLD, when my son was diagnosed with MERLD. The evidence doesn't agree with you. Here's why you are wrong:

1. If kids have deficits in receptive speech and expressive speech, it is going to look very similar on an fMRI, regardless of the diagnosis. Kids with ASD also have other problems, and that may show up in other areas on an fMRI, but the shared language issues make them look similar.

2. Kids with MERLD and ASD present similarly, especially if the MERLD is severe or the ASD is high functioning. That is why the differential diagnosis can be difficult, and many professionals have a hard time doing it. That's why lots of people recommending going to the Camaratas. They have a lot of experience making that differential diagnosis.

3. Kids with MERLD have on-going deficits, even as adults. I posted the research on another thread. Go read it. In general, I agree that their prognosis is better as a group than the prognosis for kids with ASD, but they aren't going to outgrow MERLD and become NT. They aren't all going to do better than all kids with ASDs, either.

Your child does not have MERLD and was improperly diagnosed from what you have said. What experience do you have going to the Camarata's? What other issues do you feel my child currently has? You are rambling about "research" quoting others of what you found off the internet. You have no true experience and sadly do not even understand the differences in MERLD vs. ASD and what the impact of each diagnosis is. Your kid sounds like a nightmare with ADHD and ASD, but not all of our kids are remotely like that.

There is the crux of the issue. You think that if anyone says anything about MERLD or ASD, they are attacking your child. You are terrified that your child will have a poor outcome. Your fear makes you attack other people, out of the misguided hope that attacking other parents will keep your child from having a shitty outcome.

No one has said jack shit about your kid. (People have talked generally about MERLD and about ASD and about language issues, but that isn't talking about your child.) Your fear is making you defensive and hysterical. Your kid may or may not have a good outcome. No one here can tell you that. No one is attacking you or your child. You don't get a guaranteed outcome because you have one diagnosis instead of another.

This isn't an attack, but it is sincere advice: you need therapy. You are terrified and you are bitter and you are angry.

What on earth are you talking about? My kid is doing very well. I am not at all worried nor is anyone else. You keep projecting. You are angry, name calling and speaking about things you do not know of for attention. You want every child to be ASD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. You guys are seriously tearing each other up, and for what? Please take a step back and reassess.

FWIW, my child was diagnosed with MERLD and no one has ever for a minute suspected an ASD diagnosis. Went through speech therapy and language is much improved. Most people would not detect the lingering issues.

Well, the OP should stop initiating/inserting MERLD threads/everything is peachy threads/posts. We get it--her kid had a MERLD not ASD diagnosis. No one cares except the OP.

Why do you keep posting if you do not care? Op is not the only MERLD parent here. What is your true adgenda?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I think it depends which professional you talk to. I have posted before. My son was diagnosed with MERLD and I was pretty much told down the line that some professionals use MERLD and ASD interchangeably because the interventions are the same. Often you can get more services in school with the ASD diagnosis. In the end it doesn't matter. Your goal is to get as much intervention as possible tailored to your child's individual needs and both that varies more from child to child than from ASD to MERLD.

The most interesting thing I was told was brain scans of those with ASD and MERLD were similar, but I didn't do a lit search so not sure if that was anecdotal.

The DSM is ever evolving. They used to have Aspergers as a separate diagnosis too. Many years ago I believe I read homosexuality was considered a disorder as per DSM early editions. A group of professionals meet and make adjustments. It is not carved in stone.

Of course, they are similar. Lots of kids with ASD have receptive language disorder and expressive language disorder as part of their ASD. That is going to look exactly like the language deficits that kids with MERLD have.

Huh? No, MERLD and ASD are not similar. Kids can be both, but they are not inclusive. You can have expressive and receptive issues without ASD. It looks different as the children present very differently. With just MERLD, most kids outgrow the concerns as the language progresses, with ASD, they often remain. MERLD kids do not have the same struggles when they are older as ASD. But, if it makes you feel better to lump all these kids together, go for it.

I spent a lot of time reading everything that I could on MERLD, when my son was diagnosed with MERLD. The evidence doesn't agree with you. Here's why you are wrong:

1. If kids have deficits in receptive speech and expressive speech, it is going to look very similar on an fMRI, regardless of the diagnosis. Kids with ASD also have other problems, and that may show up in other areas on an fMRI, but the shared language issues make them look similar.

2. Kids with MERLD and ASD present similarly, especially if the MERLD is severe or the ASD is high functioning. That is why the differential diagnosis can be difficult, and many professionals have a hard time doing it. That's why lots of people recommending going to the Camaratas. They have a lot of experience making that differential diagnosis.

3. Kids with MERLD have on-going deficits, even as adults. I posted the research on another thread. Go read it. In general, I agree that their prognosis is better as a group than the prognosis for kids with ASD, but they aren't going to outgrow MERLD and become NT. They aren't all going to do better than all kids with ASDs, either.

Your child does not have MERLD and was improperly diagnosed from what you have said. What experience do you have going to the Camarata's? What other issues do you feel my child currently has? You are rambling about "research" quoting others of what you found off the internet. You have no true experience and sadly do not even understand the differences in MERLD vs. ASD and what the impact of each diagnosis is. Your kid sounds like a nightmare with ADHD and ASD, but not all of our kids are remotely like that.

Excuse me? I'm 14:32 again, not the pp you quoted, but my child also has ADHD and ASD and he is not a nightmare. So fuck you for suggesting that somehow certain diagnoses are "nightmares."

Ugh, yeah. You are a terrible person, honestly, for coming on special needs and calling a large subset of kids on here - it's a common diagnosis pattern - nightmares. What is wrong with you? Stay on your Facebook page I guess. Go away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I think it depends which professional you talk to. I have posted before. My son was diagnosed with MERLD and I was pretty much told down the line that some professionals use MERLD and ASD interchangeably because the interventions are the same. Often you can get more services in school with the ASD diagnosis. In the end it doesn't matter. Your goal is to get as much intervention as possible tailored to your child's individual needs and both that varies more from child to child than from ASD to MERLD.

The most interesting thing I was told was brain scans of those with ASD and MERLD were similar, but I didn't do a lit search so not sure if that was anecdotal.

The DSM is ever evolving. They used to have Aspergers as a separate diagnosis too. Many years ago I believe I read homosexuality was considered a disorder as per DSM early editions. A group of professionals meet and make adjustments. It is not carved in stone.

Of course, they are similar. Lots of kids with ASD have receptive language disorder and expressive language disorder as part of their ASD. That is going to look exactly like the language deficits that kids with MERLD have.

Huh? No, MERLD and ASD are not similar. Kids can be both, but they are not inclusive. You can have expressive and receptive issues without ASD. It looks different as the children present very differently. With just MERLD, most kids outgrow the concerns as the language progresses, with ASD, they often remain. MERLD kids do not have the same struggles when they are older as ASD. But, if it makes you feel better to lump all these kids together, go for it.

I spent a lot of time reading everything that I could on MERLD, when my son was diagnosed with MERLD. The evidence doesn't agree with you. Here's why you are wrong:

1. If kids have deficits in receptive speech and expressive speech, it is going to look very similar on an fMRI, regardless of the diagnosis. Kids with ASD also have other problems, and that may show up in other areas on an fMRI, but the shared language issues make them look similar.

2. Kids with MERLD and ASD present similarly, especially if the MERLD is severe or the ASD is high functioning. That is why the differential diagnosis can be difficult, and many professionals have a hard time doing it. That's why lots of people recommending going to the Camaratas. They have a lot of experience making that differential diagnosis.

3. Kids with MERLD have on-going deficits, even as adults. I posted the research on another thread. Go read it. In general, I agree that their prognosis is better as a group than the prognosis for kids with ASD, but they aren't going to outgrow MERLD and become NT. They aren't all going to do better than all kids with ASDs, either.

Your child does not have MERLD and was improperly diagnosed from what you have said. What experience do you have going to the Camarata's? What other issues do you feel my child currently has? You are rambling about "research" quoting others of what you found off the internet. You have no true experience and sadly do not even understand the differences in MERLD vs. ASD and what the impact of each diagnosis is. Your kid sounds like a nightmare with ADHD and ASD, but not all of our kids are remotely like that.

Excuse me? I'm 14:32 again, not the pp you quoted, but my child also has ADHD and ASD and he is not a nightmare. So fuck you for suggesting that somehow certain diagnoses are "nightmares."

Ugh, yeah. You are a terrible person, honestly, for coming on special needs and calling a large subset of kids on here - it's a common diagnosis pattern - nightmares. What is wrong with you? Stay on your Facebook page I guess. Go away.

What is your problem? All you can do is bash others? Belittle others? Insist that their children are similar to yours - ADHD and ASD when some may be similar, but the MERLD kids are very different? What do you think you are contributing by insisting that ASD is MERLD and all kids are the same? What kind of reaction are you looking for? These kids are not all similar and should not be treated similarly.

[Anonymous]

Merld lady, my kid likely has Merld and not Asd and you must stop. You're so annoying. Also, receptive language delays can also be a sign of intellectual disability as I'm sure you're aware and testing that is tough in kids with these kinds of delays. Insisting that all such kids have better outcomes than kids with Asd is ridiculous and pointless. Stop trying to make yourself feel better and if you don't like the forum here and need to feel less troubled than others, I'd just stop going online.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Merld lady, my kid likely has Merld and not Asd and you must stop. You're so annoying. Also, receptive language delays can also be a sign of intellectual disability as I'm sure you're aware and testing that is tough in kids with these kinds of delays. Insisting that all such kids have better outcomes than kids with Asd is ridiculous and pointless. Stop trying to make yourself feel better and if you don't like the forum here and need to feel less troubled than others, I'd just stop going online.

Now MERLD is a component of intellectual disabilities too?? Where are you making this stuff up from? Testing is not difficult with the right tester and tests but doing on IQ test on a little one is pointless. Oh my... what else are you going to come up with next?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Merld lady, my kid likely has Merld and not Asd and you must stop. You're so annoying. Also, receptive language delays can also be a sign of intellectual disability as I'm sure you're aware and testing that is tough in kids with these kinds of delays. Insisting that all such kids have better outcomes than kids with Asd is ridiculous and pointless. Stop trying to make yourself feel better and if you don't like the forum here and need to feel less troubled than others, I'd just stop going online.

Now MERLD is a component of intellectual disabilities too?? Where are you making this stuff up from? Testing is not difficult with the right tester and tests but doing on IQ test on a little one is pointless. Oh my... what else are you going to come up with next?

I said it can be a symptom. Not a component. But yes, the main identified causes of receptive language delays are Asd and Id. That is just a pure objective fact. I'm not sure what you're trying to prove. This isn't helping your child, is it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Merld lady, my kid likely has Merld and not Asd and you must stop. You're so annoying. Also, receptive language delays can also be a sign of intellectual disability as I'm sure you're aware and testing that is tough in kids with these kinds of delays. Insisting that all such kids have better outcomes than kids with Asd is ridiculous and pointless. Stop trying to make yourself feel better and if you don't like the forum here and need to feel less troubled than others, I'd just stop going online.

I agree with you. The MERLD mother in her MERLD world has truly come unhinged. If her kid is doing so great the special needs forum should be a distant memory.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I think it depends which professional you talk to. I have posted before. My son was diagnosed with MERLD and I was pretty much told down the line that some professionals use MERLD and ASD interchangeably because the interventions are the same. Often you can get more services in school with the ASD diagnosis. In the end it doesn't matter. Your goal is to get as much intervention as possible tailored to your child's individual needs and both that varies more from child to child than from ASD to MERLD.

The most interesting thing I was told was brain scans of those with ASD and MERLD were similar, but I didn't do a lit search so not sure if that was anecdotal.

The DSM is ever evolving. They used to have Aspergers as a separate diagnosis too. Many years ago I believe I read homosexuality was considered a disorder as per DSM early editions. A group of professionals meet and make adjustments. It is not carved in stone.

Of course, they are similar. Lots of kids with ASD have receptive language disorder and expressive language disorder as part of their ASD. That is going to look exactly like the language deficits that kids with MERLD have.

Huh? No, MERLD and ASD are not similar. Kids can be both, but they are not inclusive. You can have expressive and receptive issues without ASD. It looks different as the children present very differently. With just MERLD, most kids outgrow the concerns as the language progresses, with ASD, they often remain. MERLD kids do not have the same struggles when they are older as ASD. But, if it makes you feel better to lump all these kids together, go for it.

I spent a lot of time reading everything that I could on MERLD, when my son was diagnosed with MERLD. The evidence doesn't agree with you. Here's why you are wrong:

1. If kids have deficits in receptive speech and expressive speech, it is going to look very similar on an fMRI, regardless of the diagnosis. Kids with ASD also have other problems, and that may show up in other areas on an fMRI, but the shared language issues make them look similar.

2. Kids with MERLD and ASD present similarly, especially if the MERLD is severe or the ASD is high functioning. That is why the differential diagnosis can be difficult, and many professionals have a hard time doing it. That's why lots of people recommending going to the Camaratas. They have a lot of experience making that differential diagnosis.

3. Kids with MERLD have on-going deficits, even as adults. I posted the research on another thread. Go read it. In general, I agree that their prognosis is better as a group than the prognosis for kids with ASD, but they aren't going to outgrow MERLD and become NT. They aren't all going to do better than all kids with ASDs, either.

Your child does not have MERLD and was improperly diagnosed from what you have said. What experience do you have going to the Camarata's? What other issues do you feel my child currently has? You are rambling about "research" quoting others of what you found off the internet. You have no true experience and sadly do not even understand the differences in MERLD vs. ASD and what the impact of each diagnosis is. Your kid sounds like a nightmare with ADHD and ASD, but not all of our kids are remotely like that.

There is the crux of the issue. You think that if anyone says anything about MERLD or ASD, they are attacking your child. You are terrified that your child will have a poor outcome. Your fear makes you attack other people, out of the misguided hope that attacking other parents will keep your child from having a shitty outcome.

No one has said jack shit about your kid. (People have talked generally about MERLD and about ASD and about language issues, but that isn't talking about your child.) Your fear is making you defensive and hysterical. Your kid may or may not have a good outcome. No one here can tell you that. No one is attacking you or your child. You don't get a guaranteed outcome because you have one diagnosis instead of another.

This isn't an attack, but it is sincere advice: you need therapy. You are terrified and you are bitter and you are angry.

What on earth are you talking about? My kid is doing very well. I am not at all worried nor is anyone else. You keep projecting. You are angry, name calling and speaking about things you do not know of for attention. You want every child to be ASD.

You are projecting again. Seriously, you need therapy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Merld lady, my kid likely has Merld and not Asd and you must stop. You're so annoying. Also, receptive language delays can also be a sign of intellectual disability as I'm sure you're aware and testing that is tough in kids with these kinds of delays. Insisting that all such kids have better outcomes than kids with Asd is ridiculous and pointless. Stop trying to make yourself feel better and if you don't like the forum here and need to feel less troubled than others, I'd just stop going online.

Now MERLD is a component of intellectual disabilities too?? Where are you making this stuff up from? Testing is not difficult with the right tester and tests but doing on IQ test on a little one is pointless. Oh my... what else are you going to come up with next?

You are arguing without at least 3 people, maybe 4 or 5. You are quite simply misinformed. You need to do more reading and research.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I think it depends which professional you talk to. I have posted before. My son was diagnosed with MERLD and I was pretty much told down the line that some professionals use MERLD and ASD interchangeably because the interventions are the same. Often you can get more services in school with the ASD diagnosis. In the end it doesn't matter. Your goal is to get as much intervention as possible tailored to your child's individual needs and both that varies more from child to child than from ASD to MERLD.

The most interesting thing I was told was brain scans of those with ASD and MERLD were similar, but I didn't do a lit search so not sure if that was anecdotal.

The DSM is ever evolving. They used to have Aspergers as a separate diagnosis too. Many years ago I believe I read homosexuality was considered a disorder as per DSM early editions. A group of professionals meet and make adjustments. It is not carved in stone.

Of course, they are similar. Lots of kids with ASD have receptive language disorder and expressive language disorder as part of their ASD. That is going to look exactly like the language deficits that kids with MERLD have.

Huh? No, MERLD and ASD are not similar. Kids can be both, but they are not inclusive. You can have expressive and receptive issues without ASD. It looks different as the children present very differently. With just MERLD, most kids outgrow the concerns as the language progresses, with ASD, they often remain. MERLD kids do not have the same struggles when they are older as ASD. But, if it makes you feel better to lump all these kids together, go for it.

I spent a lot of time reading everything that I could on MERLD, when my son was diagnosed with MERLD. The evidence doesn't agree with you. Here's why you are wrong:

1. If kids have deficits in receptive speech and expressive speech, it is going to look very similar on an fMRI, regardless of the diagnosis. Kids with ASD also have other problems, and that may show up in other areas on an fMRI, but the shared language issues make them look similar.

2. Kids with MERLD and ASD present similarly, especially if the MERLD is severe or the ASD is high functioning. That is why the differential diagnosis can be difficult, and many professionals have a hard time doing it. That's why lots of people recommending going to the Camaratas. They have a lot of experience making that differential diagnosis.

3. Kids with MERLD have on-going deficits, even as adults. I posted the research on another thread. Go read it. In general, I agree that their prognosis is better as a group than the prognosis for kids with ASD, but they aren't going to outgrow MERLD and become NT. They aren't all going to do better than all kids with ASDs, either.

Your child does not have MERLD and was improperly diagnosed from what you have said. What experience do you have going to the Camarata's? What other issues do you feel my child currently has? You are rambling about "research" quoting others of what you found off the internet. You have no true experience and sadly do not even understand the differences in MERLD vs. ASD and what the impact of each diagnosis is. Your kid sounds like a nightmare with ADHD and ASD, but not all of our kids are remotely like that.

Excuse me? I'm 14:32 again, not the pp you quoted, but my child also has ADHD and ASD and he is not a nightmare. So fuck you for suggesting that somehow certain diagnoses are "nightmares."

Ugh, yeah. You are a terrible person, honestly, for coming on special needs and calling a large subset of kids on here - it's a common diagnosis pattern - nightmares. What is wrong with you? Stay on your Facebook page I guess. Go away.

What is your problem? All you can do is bash others? Belittle others? Insist that their children are similar to yours - ADHD and ASD when some may be similar, but the MERLD kids are very different? What do you think you are contributing by insisting that ASD is MERLD and all kids are the same? What kind of reaction are you looking for? These kids are not all similar and should not be treated similarly.

Nobody has said this. Not one person.

What has been said and what you refuse to understand is that expressive language delays and receptive language delays occur in many kids with ASD and all kids with MERLD. They look similar on an fMRI. The differential diagnosis can be difficult in younger children. Outcomes for both ASD and MERLD can be good or bad, depending on the particular child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I think it depends which professional you talk to. I have posted before. My son was diagnosed with MERLD and I was pretty much told down the line that some professionals use MERLD and ASD interchangeably because the interventions are the same. Often you can get more services in school with the ASD diagnosis. In the end it doesn't matter. Your goal is to get as much intervention as possible tailored to your child's individual needs and both that varies more from child to child than from ASD to MERLD.

The most interesting thing I was told was brain scans of those with ASD and MERLD were similar, but I didn't do a lit search so not sure if that was anecdotal.

The DSM is ever evolving. They used to have Aspergers as a separate diagnosis too. Many years ago I believe I read homosexuality was considered a disorder as per DSM early editions. A group of professionals meet and make adjustments. It is not carved in stone.

Of course, they are similar. Lots of kids with ASD have receptive language disorder and expressive language disorder as part of their ASD. That is going to look exactly like the language deficits that kids with MERLD have.

Huh? No, MERLD and ASD are not similar. Kids can be both, but they are not inclusive. You can have expressive and receptive issues without ASD. It looks different as the children present very differently. With just MERLD, most kids outgrow the concerns as the language progresses, with ASD, they often remain. MERLD kids do not have the same struggles when they are older as ASD. But, if it makes you feel better to lump all these kids together, go for it.

I spent a lot of time reading everything that I could on MERLD, when my son was diagnosed with MERLD. The evidence doesn't agree with you. Here's why you are wrong:

1. If kids have deficits in receptive speech and expressive speech, it is going to look very similar on an fMRI, regardless of the diagnosis. Kids with ASD also have other problems, and that may show up in other areas on an fMRI, but the shared language issues make them look similar.

2. Kids with MERLD and ASD present similarly, especially if the MERLD is severe or the ASD is high functioning. That is why the differential diagnosis can be difficult, and many professionals have a hard time doing it. That's why lots of people recommending going to the Camaratas. They have a lot of experience making that differential diagnosis.

3. Kids with MERLD have on-going deficits, even as adults. I posted the research on another thread. Go read it. In general, I agree that their prognosis is better as a group than the prognosis for kids with ASD, but they aren't going to outgrow MERLD and become NT. They aren't all going to do better than all kids with ASDs, either.

Your child does not have MERLD and was improperly diagnosed from what you have said. What experience do you have going to the Camarata's? What other issues do you feel my child currently has? You are rambling about "research" quoting others of what you found off the internet. You have no true experience and sadly do not even understand the differences in MERLD vs. ASD and what the impact of each diagnosis is. Your kid sounds like a nightmare with ADHD and ASD, but not all of our kids are remotely like that.

Excuse me? I'm 14:32 again, not the pp you quoted, but my child also has ADHD and ASD and he is not a nightmare. So fuck you for suggesting that somehow certain diagnoses are "nightmares."

Ugh, yeah. You are a terrible person, honestly, for coming on special needs and calling a large subset of kids on here - it's a common diagnosis pattern - nightmares. What is wrong with you? Stay on your Facebook page I guess. Go away.

What is your problem? All you can do is bash others? Belittle others? Insist that their children are similar to yours - ADHD and ASD when some may be similar, but the MERLD kids are very different? What do you think you are contributing by insisting that ASD is MERLD and all kids are the same? What kind of reaction are you looking for? These kids are not all similar and should not be treated similarly.

Nobody has said this. Not one person.

What has been said and what you refuse to understand is that expressive language delays and receptive language delays occur in many kids with ASD and all kids with MERLD. They look similar on an fMRI. The differential diagnosis can be difficult in younger children. Outcomes for both ASD and MERLD can be good or bad, depending on the particular child.

I agree with this pp, but would add that outcomes are people needing "more support" or "less support," not "good" or "bad." A child who grows up to need more support is not a "nightmare" child or a "bad" outcome.